How We Retire Artifact Weapons (7.3.5 Spoilers)

Through datamining, we have learned more on how we will retire our artifact weapons leading up to Battle for Azeroth, and go back to using regular weapons. \r\rWe have known for a while that the artifact weapon progression system is limited to just this expansion, but previously it was unclear as to how we'd transition to using weapon drops again (although the datamined method lines up pretty well with a common theory).\r\rLearn more about 7.3.5 in the Patch 7.3.5 Content Hub.\r\rSpoilers\r\rDatamined dialogue from Magni Bronzebeard (encrypted voice over):\rThe sword of Sargeras is poisonin' the very lifeblood of the world.\rThe only vessels capable o' containin' that kind o' power...\rare the mighty weapons you wield.\rRaise them up as one.... draw out the corruption from the Dark Titan's blade!\rTogether, champions! For Azeroth!\r\rThere is an in-game cutscene called 7.3.5 Artifact Weapon Retirement.\r\rThis of course raises more questions. What happens to the corruption already absorbed by Azeroth and how will we heal her? Isn't it risky for us to be carrying around corrupted weapons? \r\rAnother question is when this will all happen. It's likely that this could happen at the end of Patch 7.3.5. Frequently we can test things on the PTR that are not present when the patch starts on live servers (a good example is raid testing, which is tested in the .0 patch but goes live in the .5 patch).\r\rOn the 7.3.5 PTR, the Wound in the World is updated to be glowing yellow instead of red. The sword is missing (currently a purple cube) so we assume it has changed as well. See more pictures in this post.\r\r\r\r\rLivePTR\r\r\rCurious about making progress on your artifact weapon and collecting appearances? Check out our general unlocking appearances guide and hidden appearances guide.\r\rThere are two artifact-related things you must do before Legion ends if you are interested in transmog:\rYou must acquire the main tint of the Mage Tower Appearance before Legion ends. You do not need to acquire the other tints during Legion in order to get and use them for transmog.\rOne of the tints of the "Balance of Power" style requires Keystone Master. You must get Keystone Master achievement before Legion ends to unlock and use that specific Balance of Power tint for transmog. You do NOT need to complete Balance of Power before Legion ends for the Mythic tint. If you just have the Mythic achievement during Legion, you can complete Balance of Power after Legion, and the dungeon tint will automatically unlock.

Comments

Comment by sperandiostroph

Would be nice if we got a special appearance, exclusive for who participated in the pre-patch. And for each full category of unlocked appearances an extra tint would be also unlocked.

Comment by isawakumo

on 2017-12-02T19:40:26-06:00

So between 7.3.5 and BFA, we're wielding harsh language? Because I haven't seen any other weapons show up this expansion that weren't cosmetic.

Comment by Urbansambo

on 2017-12-02T19:40:51-06:00

Thrall is nothing anymore he lost his shaman powers because he killed garrosh and the elements abandoned him thrall cant use doomhammer unless he uses as just a hammer no special powers or anything from it thrall is a washed up has been

Comment by Troo

on 2017-12-02T19:46:04-06:00

My Hati ! I'm now worried !\r\rI completely agree! It's one thing to throw away a weapon, it's another to throw away a lightning wolf you got from Thorim and bonded with...

Comment by ADTreborn

on 2017-12-02T19:46:52-06:00

thats lame

Comment by Elderahn

on 2017-12-02T19:47:46-06:00

It makes sense. Sargeras Sword (Gorribal) simply contains so much malignant power of an order of magnitude stronger than anything we've ever even considered infusing our artifacts with before, a literal building-sized shard of primordial destruction and half of the greatest weapon ever wielded in the entire WoW universe to this date.\r\rSargeras, a foe that we would never have been able to fight in person at this point due to how absurdly overpowered he is, literally stabs planets with it. There's no way our artifacts would even be vaguely capable of surviving all of that abuse.

Comment by Yeaffa

on 2017-12-02T19:53:25-06:00

Thrall retired.. Said he didn't want that stupid hammer anymore...

Comment by Chalice

on 2017-12-02T19:54:16-06:00

fire mage's flame orb\rIm worried now

Comment by Ghouls

on 2017-12-02T19:54:34-06:00

Aw, I was hoping for something like each artifact having its own story for why you had to give it up.\r\rBlack Harvest decides their artifacts are too dangerous and choose to lock them up on Dreadscar\r\rOdyn requesting that since each of the Warrior artifacts were originally intended for Vrykul that they should remain in the Halls of Valor\r\retc.

Comment by SilverDragon234

on 2017-12-02T19:57:13-06:00

what happens to the cannon like what is thrall with out doom hammer? how will this fit in the lore?\r\rNo Doomhammer in his hand so I guess that's it.\r\rThat's not the answer we're looking for.

Comment by Kananera

on 2017-12-02T20:03:41-06:00

Well, you talked about talking knifu, the scythe, etc...\r\r\r\r\r\r\r... But infusing the SCEPTER OF SARGERAS with the BLADE OF SARGERAS power, does it REALLY sound like a SAIN idea ?

Comment by sheut

on 2017-12-02T20:04:18-06:00

... so G'hanir will corrupt all of the Emerald Dream, then pass that directly into Azeroth? Nice blizz.

Comment by Tequima

on 2017-12-02T20:04:58-06:00

So this is how the Infinite Dragonflight got hold of the Corrupted Ashbringer and placed it in Naxxramas...

Comment by Caerule

on 2017-12-02T20:07:53-06:00

I wouldn't worry about all weapons just yet. While yes, draining a poisonous power into the Ashbringer may certainly ruin it, this dark power may not be the end of all of them. The reason I am saying this is a still-unused voice line from the priest dagger Xal'atath:

"Long have we sought entry to this realm! To think we have a mortal to thank for giving us our foothold. Your service will be remembered!"

Edit: I was wrong. It is used.

I do wonder what'll happen exactly. Do the artifacts explode? Do they get a corrupted and degrading form to indicate to us that they are slowly falling to pieces for the remainder of the expansion? Do they just need to be locked away because of their toxic energies? Or has something awaited this gathering of power to claim these energies for itself? It's going to be an interesting wait.

Comment by Boomkin112

on 2017-12-02T20:08:51-06:00

thrall is just a pleb orc atm, the elements stopped following him

Comment by Adrrianpor

on 2017-12-02T20:11:53-06:00

What about pvp related tints? Like 10 rated bg wins, prestige 11 etc etc, will it still be available after legion?

Comment by Felyshkaw

on 2017-12-02T20:53:40-06:00

Yet another cool thing that will soon be obsolete...and non-transmog, I bet. And...and my Skoll will lose Hati. :(

Comment by 8thRonin

on 2017-12-02T21:01:34-06:00

Will the achieve for mythic keystone master work account wide for all artifact appearances orrrr will it just be toon specific?

Comment by Koukoutsapol

on 2017-12-02T21:08:55-06:00

I wouldn't worry about all weapons just yet. While yes, draining a poisonous power into the Ashbringer may certainly ruin it, this dark power may not be the end of all of them. The reason I am saying this is a still-unused voice line from the priest dagger Xal'atath:

"Long have we sought entry to this realm! To think we have a mortal to thank for giving us our foothold. Your service will be remembered!"

It isn't unused. It's used when you enter the Seat of Pantheon for the Argus fight with Xal'atath.

Comment by Arakara

on 2017-12-02T21:29:45-06:00

I actually was hoping that we would use the energy we spent all that time acquiring during the expansion to... I dunno, dislodge Sargeras' sword from the ground ? And then, story-wise, the artifact weapon is back to where it started when we were level 100, so we give them back to NPCs so that they can wield them \/ hide them \/ seal them.

I'd like Aethas Sunreaver to receive Felo'melorn, Arator the Redeemer to get Ashbringer. Alleria or Vereesa should claim once again Thas'dorah... It'd also be fitting for Mayla Highmountain to get Talonclaw (Survival Hunter artifact) since it was Huln's weapon. I could go on and on. Every single weapon could go back to someone who'd then wield it in later battles while we move on to the next thing (the Heart of Azeroth in BfA, for instance). These weapons stories could then go on without us.

In the end, I don't care why we let go of them, if it's to dislodge Sargeras' sword, to cleanse the wound in Silithus, to absorb the flow of corrupted blood or whatever.I'm just afraid that these weapons of legends are just gonna end-up in our banks, even story-wise. That would SUCK BALLZ. Not a fitting end for them.Imagining Thrall without the Doomhammer, while the weapon is just getting slowly covered in dust in my bank is heart-breaking.